Ofelia Gonzalez – First Things First

For Parents
For Parents.To help you do the best you can, here’s some information, tools and resources for supporting your child’s healthy development and learning.
- Find Programs
- Parentz Pod
Find free early childhood programs across Arizona
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About FTF
About FTF. Created by Arizona voters, First Things First partners with families and communities to help our state’s young children be ready for success in kindergarten and beyond.
- What We Do
  
  Our Mission
  
  How We Work
  
  Investments
  
  Publications
- Governance
  
  Board
  
  Regions
  
  Tribal Affairs
First Things First 2022 Annual Report highlights collective successes working to improve outcomes for Arizona’s youngest
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Grants
Grants. First Things First invests in strategies and programs that support the development, health and learning of children birth to age 5 (before kindergarten).
- Grant Opportunities
- Potential Applicants
- Strategy Toolkit
- Grantee Resources
Building strong families one visit at a time
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Get Involved
Get Involved. First Things First partners with families and communities to give all Arizona children the opportunity to arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.
- Serve Your AZ Community
- Giving
- Take Action
- Early Childhood Summit
2022 FTF Champions helping their community better understand the importance of the early years
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Latest News

News and happenings about First Things First

child care teacher smiling at small table with art supplies, Quality First coaching

Quality First coaching helps create nurturing environments of learning

11/4/2022
Quality First

Quality First helps child care providers in the state improve the quality of their programs to help children be ready for kindergarten.

International Decade of Indigenous Languages

First Things First joins in recognizing the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

10/20/2022
language preservation

Some FTF regions support a Native Language Preservation Strategy to give families tools to promote their children’s language development.

Dad in blue, long sleeve shirt showing little girl in purple something outside near a tree. Making nature accessible

Working to connect babies, toddlers and preschoolers to outdoor spaces

10/7/2022
play

Research shows that connecting young children with nature contributes to their healthy development, including cognitively and emotionally.

Quality First Arizona preschool in Flagstaff, teacher bending down to interact with students

Parents say Quality First helped their children with a strong start for kindergarten

9/29/2022
Navajo Nation

Many times, parents don’t know where to begin their search for a quality child care center or preschool. QualityFirstAZ.com makes it easy.

child care provider holding baby while two babies play on a mat.

Child care scholarships available for airport employees

9/13/2022
child care

The City of Phoenix Airport Worker Child Care Scholarship Program should help more airport worker families afford quality child care.

Jeanine Bashir

FTF senior regional director recognized for helping community members lead healthy lives

9/9/2022
Phoenix South

Jeanine Bashir, an FTF senior regional director, was recently honored with a Profiles of Success award by Valle del Sol.

Teacher, wearing a mask, is looking up to student, pointing at a card. Quality First program.

Quality First provides ‘comradery among educators’

9/2/2022
Quality First

After opening Casa de Montessori, the center director was looking to improve. Joining the Quality First program was the perfect solution.

First Things First Yavapai Region honored with Eddie Basha Award for Leadership and Service

8/18/2022
Yavapai

The FTF Yavapai Regional Council was honored for its collective work to improve support services for families with young children.

2022 Champions for Young Children Award, early childhood champions

2022 FTF Champions helping their community better understand the importance of the early years

8/3/2022
AZ communities

FTF is honoring early childhood champions throughout Arizona who actively volunteer to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood.

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